Neighbors gather to pray, call for action

Neighbors gather to pray, call for action

By O’Ryan Johnson | Wednesday, September 29, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

Photo by Stuart Cahill

Stunned by new depths of callous homicide in their Mattapan neighborhood, dozens of heartbroken residents gathered to pray, pay their respects and issue an angry call for action.
“We gotta go into the churches and say, what are you doing for our community?” demanded Rhonda Valburn, 47. “If you aren’t doing anything, you gotta go!”
The mourners held candles and talked about how they could change their small stretch of Mattapan, which was the scene of an Aug. 29 shooting, as well as a July 2006 homicide.
One resident held up a sign calling for politicians and officials to be held accountable - listing the phone numbers for Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Police Commissioner Edward Davis.
Valburn, a longtime resident of the street, passed out fliers earlier yesterday urging people on her street and in her neighbourhood to call police with any information. That effort snowballed into the vigil last night, where 50 people, including state Sen. Sonia Chang Diaz, turned out to urge community action.
The residents are demanding more police patrols after 11 p.m. and more funding for law enforcement. A police commander said police are getting tips but they need witnesses and anyone with useful information to come forward.
Earlier, about 400 grieving community members gathered at Morning Star Baptist Church.
“We offer our prayful support,” said the Rev. William Dickerson. “No one should ever feel unsafe where they live.”
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1285095